Redhill Park BC: 1937-2017

B&DBA: A History of Current & Bygone Bowling Clubs

Redhill Park Bowling Club opened in 1937, the same year that Redhill Common changed its name to Redhill Park. The Council used the Bournemouth Corporation Act 1900 to extinguish all common rights in the land. Once known as Inclosure Allotment 61, it was decided in 1913 to turn the public open space into pleasure grounds. It took over twenty more years for the bowling green to be created, at a cost of £316 6s 2d, using Cumberland turf. Having played a friendly match between the Council and the Kinson Ratepayers Association to mark the green’s official opening on 9 June 1937, a meeting took place on 25 September 1937, with about 20 people in attendance, to discuss forming a bowling club. The newly built pavilion opened in May 1938, at a cost of £1,863 to build.

During the club’s affiliation with the B&DBA, they were often competing in sections outside of the top flight, however, gained promotion to Section One as Champions of Section Two in 1968 and 1976. In 1967, Redhill “A” became the first Champions of the new Section Five.

The club had members who went on to become the President of the B&DBA, in 1950, 1982 and the most recent, in 2001, held by J. E. Williams.

Michael Hutley wrote on social media how he used to choose to play his County Area Final Singles game at Redhill Park around 2009, when the green was really quick. The green was also chosen to host games in the Bournemouth Open, which Michael remembers fondly having moved away to Norway in 2013, but came back a few times to coincide with the Bournemouth Open.

The club also had a thriving Women's team, competing in the B&DWBA, and enjoyed various Fun Days, raising money for charity, as can be seen in the photograph, believed to have been taken in the early 2000s.

Redhill Park BC closed in October 2017. The reasons given for closure was declining membership and the struggle to maintain its green once the Council removed their funding. There were also deeper issues with the Council, however, as the club were told they had to offer toilet facilities to the public when the pavilion was open. This was as a result of the public toilets building having to be demolished due to vandalism. With this added responsibility, the water bills were high, and the club also had an ongoing and unresolved dispute over being charged for the water used in the public paddling pool.

What was once a thriving, well established club within the B&DBA, it is sad to see that financial implications cost the club that served its community for 80 years.